Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Students Honored At Athletics Banquet

Calling Prescott High School's athletic banquet a success would be a gross understatement.

In all, 271 people showed up to see the student athletes receive awards they had earned in various sports, along with hearing former Curley Wolf Teodis Ingram speak.

Ingram, head coach and athletic director at Crossett High School, played football for PHS until graduating in 1977, and going on to star at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

"Athletes," he said, "should consider this (the banquet) a privilege as athletics are getting a bad name now.'

This is because a number of professional athletes from different sports have been in the news because of a wide array of crimes they've been either involved in or accused of.

When Charles Barkley said he wasn't a role model, Ingram said, he was wrong. All athletes at every level is a role model because someone is watching them and what they do.

"You're in the public eye," Ingram said, "and are expected to do certain things."

One of the most important things for the athletes, he said, is to get a good education. "Prescott awarded me an education I didn't deserve. Grades weren't my concern. All I wanted to do was line up with the Wolf pack. I didn't see the importance of education."

After graduating from PHS Ingram took a job at Potlatch during the summer, bought a new car and was getting ready to settle into a new life.

As the summer drew to a close, and friends of his were preparing to go to college, he realized when they left he wouldn't see them again.

Ingram then changed his plans, enrolled at UAM and left, taking only the clothes he was wearing, as he didn't realize how far Monticello was from Prescott. "I thought I'd be going home every night," he said.

Instead, he made the sacrifice and washed his clothes nightly after class and stayed at UAM. "When you make sacrifices good things happen."

The Bluff City native said today's adults are making mistakes by giving children the wrong message about success, telling them they have to have a college education to be successful.

"Anytime anyone can make an honest living and put food on the table for their family," he said, "they're a success.

"When you face adversity, look it in the face and don't bow down. Find a way to live because you're setting an example for somebody."

Ingram had a message for the parents in the audience as well, telling them to be there when their children are down and helping them through both the good and bad times.

To the students, he said they need to know their parents aren't perfect and do make mistakes, but families need to come together like a team.

"Be a team player," he said. "Believe in yourself and your children."

Kirk Armitage, PHS athletic director and head coach, acted as emcee for the night. "I never dreamed we'd have anything this major," he said of the gathering.

"This reflects on the community and says a lot for the parents."

Student athletes, he said, spend a lot of time on road trips going to and from games, yet they still have to work and keep their grades up. "It's not easy being an athlete.

"The young people got out and worked for this, spending unbelievable amounts of time doing what they want to do and love.

"You are the elite," he told the athletes, "the best Prescott has to offer. You work harder to excel and make Prescott what it is. I'm blessed and honored to be called a Curley Wolf and be in the company of people like you."

Armitage introduced the coaching staff, lauding them for their efforts, and also recognized the wives, praising them for their dedication to their husbands and their husbands's profession.

Ralph Harris, president of the Prescott Athletic Booster Club, recognized members of the club who had worked during the year at all the athletic events.

He also praised the coaching staff, superintendent Ron Wright, and the businesses of Prescott that support the Wolves and Wolverettes.Harris presented the Booster Club Scholarship to the outstanding male and female athletes. Those who applied for the $500 scholarship to the college of their choice had to meet certain requirements.

The first being the grade point average, followed by their activities in the community. Then, the applicants had to write an essay on what it meant to be a Curley Wolf.

The winners were Rafael Marlow and Abby Morman.

The banquet was sponsored by the Booster Club and PHS Athletic Department.